We went to bed a few hours early last night because we were told there was a lady in the clinic that was expected to deliver soon. I finished my schoolwork for the day and turned in early. Ruth, one of the new students did the same because we knew when the lady was dilated enough, we would be texted so that we would be ready to be picked up and brought to the clinic. Around 2:30 a.m., we got the text. We had laid out our clothes and got ready quickly and we were downstairs when our ride pulled up. We made it to the clinic in just a few minutes and this time I came prepared with my homework and a few snacks. We waited for a bit in a separate room while two midwifes tended to the mother in labor. The women here are tough and during the births I have already seen, they have strength when it comes to pain that goes beyond my comprehension. I sat in the other room and prayed for the woman and for God’s hand in this delivery. I knew all of us attending were Christians and so I knew we all must be praying. It took some time for the baby to make it in to transition and finally we could see the head. We tried to help the mother in breathing and controlled pushing and then the baby’s head came all the way out. In this delivery, I was given the responsibility of helping the midwife deliver the baby and also cleaning off its face and clamping the cord. The face was in view and I made a quick swipe to clean it off. We waited for the next contraction to move the baby further out and during this time, one of the midwives felt around the neck of the baby for any possible cord there. A few moments earlier, the baby’s heartbeat was checked to make sure it was receiving oxygen and everything then was fine. I learned today in my class that 1 out of every 3 births has a cord wrapped around the neck and this was a good thing to know because in the past I have heard people talk of this happening and their tone has been in horror. I know understand more about this now and what we can do with the mother before the birth and what we can do when we find the cord is wrapped around the neck. Either way, this baby had the cord wrapped around its neck not only once, but twice, and also had it wrapped around its body. We moved fast and slipped the cord from around the baby. We gathered the baby in the blanket and did a quick assessment. We then waited for the rest of the contractions that pushed the placenta out. We put the baby to her breast which aided in her uterus clamping down to control the bleeding and we also massaged her uterus with our hands. Even though the room was filled with “ohhs” and “ahhhs” that come when someone new has entered this world, there seemed to be a silent amen breathed from us health care workers and midwives that all had gone well. We let the mother rest with her baby skin to skin with her and then later returned to do the newborn exam and also stitch up the mother since she had a slight tear from uncontrolled pushing during the entry of the baby’s head. We snapped some photos, taking a hard copy with us of the miracle we had witnessed. How awesome to be a witness to such an event!

It was just before breakfast when we headed back from the clinic and my roommate Ruth and I started to ascend the steps to our apartment. From the window of the vehicle below, the leader of our school calls out that today we would need to be soldiers. “Soldiers” my British roommate with her English accent asked me. Yes, “soldiers” I replied. I explained that there would be no heading to bed even though we had been up most of the night and she just said “really?”. No, it was time to take a quick shower and grab some breakfast and then head to class.

Class past by fast and we were working on our second wind. I seemed to be moving well in my delirium. Class ended early and we were told we had a boat waiting for us at the beach near our apartment. We were going snorkeling with our other classmates off the other end of the island. We all decided to go and on the way we saw a school of flying fish. They jumped out of the water, wriggled in the air a bit, and then dipped back into the ocean. I didn’t go snorkeling but instead took a rest on the bow of the boat and rested with the rolling waves. It was a long day, but one that had many memories. Thanks God for showing me your miracles and the things you have made (including that big blue starfish)!